Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Newsletter

River Currents – Fall 2008

Riverkeeper, Honeywell, EPA in Buffalo River Project

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Honeywell and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office today announced a unique collaboration relating to the Buffalo River. Through a unique public-private and non-profit collaborative partnership, the three entities signed a $3 million Great Lakes Legacy Act project agreement. It calls for completing a feasibility study assessing contaminated sediments in a 6.2-mile stretch of the Buffalo River and modifies an existing Legacy Act agreement between Riverkeeper and the EPA signed in March 2007.

The EPA Research Vessel Mudpuppy and contractor boats will be on the river for sediment sampling, ecological sampling/mapping and hydrodynamic modeling. The project is on target to select a cleanup remedy in 2009. There will be ample opportunity for the public to participate in the remedy selection process, with a goal to begin sediment clean up in 2010.

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper has been working with local agencies on contaminated sediment cleanup efforts since 1990. “Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper not only serves as the primary advocate for cleaning up the Buffalo River, but is changing the traditional role of a non-profit in the Great Lakes restoration,” said Julie Barrett O’Neill, Riverkeeper’s executive director.

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SOLEC Award

Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER was recognized by the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) for “exceptional performance and dedication to improving the Great Lakes.” The award was presented at the SOLEC 2008 conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on October 21^st.

The State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conferences (SOLEC) and State of the Great Lakes reports are produced jointly by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada on behalf of the United States and Canada. They provide independent, science-based reporting on the state of the health of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.

Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER was recognized for its management during the
last five years of the Buffalo River Remedial Action Plan (RAP). In addition to being the first non-profit organization throughout the Great Lakes to manage a RAP, Riverkeeper is also working with various state and federal agencies on the last stages of a contaminated sediment assessment and feasibility study before beginning a large sediment remediation project could begin in 2010. Last month, RIVERKEEPER announced a $3 million partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office and Honeywell to fund this Feasibility Study.

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Thanks to Volunteers for 2008 Autumn Beach Sweep Success

Congratulations to the more than 600 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves on Saturday morning, September 20, 2008 to clean up the litter and trash from the Buffalo and Niagara River watersheds. The trash and litter that enters into our streams, creeks, and rivers is not only unsightly, but it degrades habitat and water quality for fish and wildlife. In partnership with the Ocean Conservancy's International Cleanup, Western New York volunteers joined hundreds of thousands of people in more than 75 countries removing millions of pounds of trash from waterways and beaches all over the world. the data that we collect on the litter in the Great Lakes will be analyzed and used in shaping national legislation to reduce the trash problem.

We are grateful to our sponsors: M&T Bank, American Littoral Society, TEVA, Grant Amherst Business Association, Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte, Tops, Wegmans, and American Legion Post #1041. The dedication of the site captains and volunteer groups make the cleanup possible. This year we were supported by volunteers from: Amherst High School, Buffalo State College, Ecology and Environment, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Grant Amherst Business Association, Houghton College, McKinley High School, Niagara University, Quality Quest, South Park H.S. Green Team, University of Buffalo, Y & C Paddlers.

Volunteers found many different types of trash along our shorelines, such as: Canine Skull, Mattress & bed frame, Underwear & Jock Straps, Bridge Rivets, Shotgun shells, Lots of Plastic Bags, Beverage cans and bottles, Fishing line, hooks, and bait containers, Cigarette and cigars and wrapping, Guard rail pieces, Swiss army knife, Food containers, Weight Lifting Bar, Condoms & tampons, Washer & Dryer, Bicycles, Car bumper, car parts & tires, and Shopping carts.

Mark Your Calendar for Spring Cleanup! Join Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER on April 18, 2009 for the Spring Cleanup! Online registration will start in February 2009. Call Kerri now if you are interested in leading a site for next spring ‘s clean up at 852-7483 ext. 15.

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Rain Barrel Holiday Sale! Give Green This Holiday Season with a Gift from Riverkeeper!

Riverkeeper is accepting orders for rain barrels until October 31, 2008. The barrels are a great gift for gardeners and homeowners interested in going green! The 60 gallon barrel captures rain water off your roof that can be used to water plants and for other outdoor chores. They are a great way to conserve water and reduce harmful runoff. Barrels are $99.95 and available in forest green, dark brown, and grey. For more information or to order online, visit www.bnriverkeeper.org or call Kerri at 852-7483 ext 15.

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Riverkeeper Leads Volunteer Tree Plantings at Seneca Bluffs
On a beautiful fall day in September, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER coordinated 115
employees from HSBC Bank to plant trees along the Buffalo River. In partnership with Erie County's Department of Environment and Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ecology & Environment, volunteers planted 200 trees and shrubs at Seneca Bluffs Park in the City of Buffalo. The event is part of the HSBC Climate Partnership, a five-year $100 million global partnership between HSBC and other environmental organizations to reduce the impact of climate change for people, forests, water and cities. Volunteers planted trees from a special nursery that prune the root systems to ensure higher survivability. For more information about your business can become involved in special volunteer events, call Kerri Bentkowski, Citizen Action Coordinator, at 852-RIVER.

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News, Notices, and other Information

Jobs: Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPERâ currently has six job postings listed on our website. Please visit our homepage for descriptions and application information.

Tree Plantings: Help is needed for Fall tree plantings, organized by ReTree of WNY, in November: the 8^th at Seneca Bluffs park, the 9^th at Scajaquada Creek, and the 12^th on Bailey Peninsula. For more information or to sign up, please contact Tom Hryvniak for the 8^th and 9^th dates, 875-4028 or hryvniak@buffalo.com; for the 12^th at Bailey Peninsula, contact Adam Hovey, thepalace275@roadrunner.com

Volunteers Needed for Rain Barrel Roll Out Event! Volunteers are need to help with the Rain Barrel Roll Out event on Saturday, November 22 from 8:30-1 p.m. Volunteers are welcome to come for the full time or part of the time. Assistance is needed in cashiering and helping to retrieve barrels from the stock room and load them into cars. To volunteer, please contact Kerri Bentkowski, Citizen Action Coordinator, at kbentkowski@bnriverkeeper.org or call 852-RIVER.

Calendar: For a listing of Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPERâ events coming up in the next few months, please use the calendar on our homepage. If you have an environmental event you would like us to list, please send it to : info@bnriverkeeper.org

Website: There are new pages on our website: Videos, Pipewatch, and Rain Barrels. The ‘News’ page is updated weekly so please check it on a regular basis. If there is an issue you would like our community to know about, please send the information to the webmaster (link can be found at the bottom of our webpages.)

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper / 1250 Niagara Street/ Buffalo, NY 14213 /(716)852-7483
info@bnriverkeeper.org
Webmaster